Normality

Max is going to school and I am looking at tiles and am visiting IKEA. Seems like we have entered the most "normal" phase of our sabbatical. Max is quite happy at school - or rather Kindergarten but for him it is school/escuela and he also keeps calling the teacher there "maestra" - Spanish still seems to be the language of education for him. A bit of unpleasant normality was introduced on his second day of school when he came home and proudly told us that that he had "hit all the children". Oma was shocked and I was worried that they might throw him out for his bad behavior and so we bribed him into compliance by promising him candy if he behaved himself the next day. Thankfully he did, he came home and told us that he had called all the boys "rascals" which - for all I know - they are indeed. So he got his candy and more encouragement to keep calling everybody rascal while avoiding blatant violence.
While Max was at school calling his new friends rascals Debbie and I went to look at tiles for their bathroom remodel. I love looking at tiles (or carpets, or kitchens, furniture, lamps, colors, ...) and since we just finished a bathroom remodel before leaving I fancy myself as somewhat of - well, maybe not an expert - but at least a serious remodeling street warrior. In addition I have watched the occasional episode of any of three or four different shows on HGTV which makes me knowlegable enough to be dangerous. I was, however, absolutely stunned to find that neither Debbie nor Jasi share my vision of clutterfree spaces with most things stacked and stored away in identical looking boxes. Nor did either one of them seem to think that nice designy bowls, Ikebana-like flower arrangements and modern abstract art are required in a well-appointed house. There was talk of baskets (yikes - think of the dust they collect), earthy colors, the desire to have pretty much all possesions visible when I intend to hide the fact that I am reading trashy crime stories by hiding the books before and after reading in those white IKEA boxes I use for everything from sewing supplies to CDs. So longish discussions followed about things like comfy homes, different styles and whether Jasi could ever imaging putting those old Agatha Christie whos-dunnits into boxes, the necessity of having a focal point in the room, proper lighting, and a new couch. In short, conversations which would have put most men I know right to sleep and invigorated me. Then we went tile shopping and today - a holiday in Germany (don't ask) but not in Switzerland (don't ask either) - we drove to the nearest IKEA and spent an invigorating 4.5 hours combing through ever aisle, section, department and - of course - the restaurant (for once I was happy about the global uniformity of things these day as they also offered the delicious Daim cake I always treat myself to when visiting IKEA East Palo Alto). Baskets were purchased and - I am proud to say - a few of those extremely useful boxes, a new lamp and a few other odds and ends. I made a note to self to run right over to East Palo when I get back to buy that wonderful new rail system that will be perfectly suited for hiding the cluttery book shelf in our guest/study room.
That was the excitment of the day. It was fun to do sort of normal stuff with my two girl-friends both of whom I have know for an eternity, or two, in Jasi's case. Just being silly, making politically incorrect remarks about the Swiss, talking about kids, work, and eating unhealthy food (man, those Swedish meatballs ...). It's like I have never been away which is great but somewhat unsettleing as well as I am not sure the reverse is true and I would fit right back in without a problem. I rather think not but it is so easy to believe it when pushing a shopping cart through IKEA and bitching about ugly designs.
The weather still leaves a lot to be desired. It's the photographers worst light: grey,overcast sky which bleaches out on every landscape, cityscape and whatever-scape. Yesterday it was downright cold and they keep predicting better weather for the next day and have been doing so for the last week or so. I so hope we will have nice sunny weather starting Sunday at the latest - that's when Sandy arrives and I would really like to show her the prettiest face of Konstanz.